Operating means for automatic telephones



Aug. 22, 1933. A. L. MYERS 1,923,947

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES Filed April 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lg 27 ii Aug. 22, 1933. A, MYERS 1,923,947

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES Filed April 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III III!" PEP Patented Aug. 22, 1933 siren STATES OPERATING MEANS Fort AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES Abram L. Myers, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 1, 1932. Serial No. 602,512 7 Claims. .(01. ire- 90) This invention relates to improved means 'for operating automatic telephones and has for one of its principal objects the elimination of the rotatable dial previously considered essential in the manipulation of automatic telephones.

This application .constitutes a companion application to an application for "patenton a similar device previously filed by this same inventor on August 28, 1931, Serial No. 559,961, entitled Dial telephone operating means, matured Jan. 31, 1e33, into Patent No. 1,895,552.

@116 or" the important objects of this invention is to provide a series of push-buttons for operating the recording mechanism of an automatic telephone, a somewhat similar series of pushbuttons and their operation having been shown and described in the co-pending case heretofore referred to. I

Another important object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved means for operating the push-buttons for the current making and breaking mechanism whereby said pushbuttons will not be liable to accidental overthrow or operation past a certain limit, thus positively avoiding the possibilities of error or faulty operation.

Still another important object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved governor which controls the speed of the current making breaking mechanism, and a positive stop in connection with the governor whereby undesirable excess speed movement will be eliminated, and further, whereby themechanism is always halted in an open circuit position, this last eliminating any possibility of imperfect connections and undesirable open-line signals.

[another and still further important object of the invention is the provision in apush-button operated type oi automatic telephone of means for automaticalh looking all of the push-buttons in inoperative position after any one button has been depressed.

Other and further important objects of the'invention will be apparent from the disclosures in accompanying drawings and following specification. a

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved push-button operated auto mati'c'telephone current making and breaking means of this invention, certain portions being brokenaway to illusv trate the interior construction, and certain-other portions being omitted for clearness.

grouped in circular arrangement about a Figure 2 is a top plan view of a pair o pushbuttons with th a c pany levers n h central stem and common head whereby any button raises the stem through a corresponding desired limited movement.

Figure 3is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the central head removed and illustrating the mechanism whereby. the remaining keys are locked against depression after the initial operation of one key. V

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the interior mechanism showing particularly the central operating stem with attached rack, and the associated gear connections.

Figure 5 is another View of the interior mecha nism showingparticular-l-y the operating stem and rack with certain of the attached gears and also showing the positive stop whereby motion of the mechanism is automatically halted at a desired stage to avoid open circuits.

Figure 6 is a detail view-of the operating mechanism showing particularly the speed governor, the current making and breaking device,- and also the automatically controlled stop.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of the mechanism with the common operating head removed showing the automatic locking feature for the keys and also showing certain of the gear arrangements.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the large gearand associated ratchet wheel which gear is rotated in only one direction by the operation of the stem and rack, and which in turn drives the current making and breaking mechanism.

Figure 91s a detail bottom view of themecnanism showing the one-way operating gear and its conections to the current making and break-' ing mechanism and governor. I

Figure 10'is a detail view of two of the operat operating means of this invention which is of. a

size to be conveniently mounted in the base of the ordinary telephone, apportion of which is shown at 12 and which is provided with a series of :ten push buttonsor operating .keys '13, preferably I central operating stem or shaft 14.

'Eachlof the keys or push-buttons 13 is mounted on a lever 15 pivoted, at a :point 16 and-shaped as best shown in Figures 1, 5, and 10.

The free end'of .eachof the 'ten levers is adapted to contact :with .a central operating head 17 other locked" in normal W mounted on the central operating stem 14, and as best shown in Figure 10, depression of any one of the keys raises the central operating head 17 and the attached stem 14 through a certain desired distance limited in each case by means of a stop 18 as best shown in Figure l. A stop 18 is provided for each of the levers 15, these stops being graduated around the circle of the ten levers in such a manner that each succeeding lever can be raised an additional one-tenth of the entire limit of movement of the last lever. V

In this manner, operation of the first lever causes a single current making contact, the next lever causes two and so on until the last lever which causes ten of such contacts. This current making and breaking feature is usual in the ordinary automatic telephone, and accordingly, no detailed explanation of the circuit will be made here.

Rotatably mounted on the stem 14 and directly beneath the central operating head 17 is sleeve 19 having formed integral therewith or attached to its upper end a series of ten radial projections 20 spaced apart sufficiently to enable a corresponding end of any one of the operat ing levers 15 to move upwardly therebetween upon depression of the key 13, and accordingly contact with the end face of the central operat.

ing head 17. This construction is best shown in Figures 3, 5, 7, and 10.

A flange 21 (Figure 5) is mounted at the lower end of the sleeve 19 and a pin extends downwardly from this flange terminating in a head 22 to which is attached one end of a helical spring 23, the other end of which is mounted on a projection 24 of the framework of the mechanism.

As best shown in Figure 3, a slot 25 is cut into the upper end of the sleeve 19 between two of the projections 20, and this slot has one of its sides camrned or inclined at an angle as best shown in this figure for operating contact with a projection 26 mounted on the upper end of the stem 14 and just underneath the head 17. When a key 13 is depressed, the inner end of the lever 15 passes through the two corresponding extensions 20 and contacting with the under-face of the head 17 raises it and the stem through a desired correspondingly controlled distance.

At the same time, this movement lifts the projection 26 from the slot 25 and frees the projection from contact with the inclined side of the slot whereupon the tension of the spring 23 (Fig. 4) rotates the sleeve 19 together with the projections 20 through a sufficient portion of a circular movement to bring the projections 20 over the ends of the remaining levers 15. This position is best shown in Figure 3,.and the extent of movementof the sleeve 19 and the extensions 20 is controlled by means of a stop which the pin 22 contacts. From an inspection of Figure 3, it will be seen that the depressed key and the corresponding inner end of the lever 15 is above the related projection 20, thereby enabling operation of the stem and head, and that the remaining keys are locked against depression. As soon, however, as the depressed key hasbeen released, the spring 27 (Figure 1) returns it to its 7 normal position and a coil spring 28, associated with the stem 14 in a manner to be, hereinafter described, returns the stem and head to its normal position allowing the projection 26 to enter the cammed slot 25, rotating the sleeve 19 and as sociated projections 20 back against the tension of the spring 23 to normal key-releasing position.

Either aifixed to or made integral with the lower end of the stem 14 is a rack 29 which is in mesh with a pinion 30, and any upward or downward movement of the stern and rack causes a corresponding rotation of the pinion 30 which is mounted on a supporting shaft 31.

The spring 28 is mounted on a free end of the shaft 31, and one end of the spring is connected to the framework while the other end is connected to a head 32 fixed on the end of the shaft 31.

Consequently, any rotation of the shaft 31 tensions the spring 28 tending to return the shaft, the pinion and rack to normal position as best shown in Figure 4.

Also mounted on the shaft 31 adjacent the pinion 30 and rotatable therewith is a ratchet wheel 33 and adapted to cooperate with this ratchet wheel is a pawl 34 pivotally mounted on the large operating gear wheel 35, and impelled into cooperative relation with the ratchet wheel 33 by means of a helical spring or the like 36.

The large operating gear wheel 35 is mounted on a sleeve 37 positioned and freely rotatable on the shaft 31. In this manner, the large operating gear wheel 35 is not rotated upon upwar motion of the stem 14 and attached rack. 29 as the pawl 34 simply rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel '33. However, as soon as the tension of the spring 28 begins to depress the rack 29 upon release of the operating key, the pawl 34 contacts the teeth of the ratchet wheel 33 and causes corresponding rotation of the main operating gear wheel 35.

This gear wheel 35 is continuously in mesh with a drivingv pinion 38 mounted on a shaft 39 which is suitably fixed in the framework and which is mounted thereon adjacent the pinion 39, a positive stop element in the form of a ratchet wheel having only two teeth as best shown at 40 in Figure 5.

Adapted to cooperate with the teeth of this ratchet wheel is a pawl or latch 41 pivotally mounted at 42 on the framework of the device and having an integral extension 43 which contacts with a lug 44 projecting from the rear face of the rack 29 adjacent the point where said rack is affixed to the stem 14. (Figure 5.) 1

When the stem and rack are raised by operation of one of the keys, a helical spring 45 pulls the pawl member 41 around its pivot point 42 releasing the cam element 40 for rotation when'the gear wheel 35 and associated pinion 38 begin to function.

However, when the rack reaches the downward limit of its movement, the lug 44 again contacts with the extension 43, moving the inner end of the pawl 41 into position to stop the rotation of the shaft 39 at one of two desired points.

stoppage in this position assures a proper contact between the points 46and 47 (Figure 6) which are mounted on suitable current carrying extensions 48 and 49 respectively, and of which extensions the one designated at 48 is of the leaf spring type for vibrating movement and has a pointed end50 for contact with a circuit making and breaking cam 51 which cam is also mounted on the shaft 39. It will be noted that stoppage of the shaft 39 by means of the pawl and ratchet 40-41 causes the cam 51 to come to rest in such a position that the points 46 and 47 remain in contact by preventing what is known as an open line or a continuous circuit at this point which is undesirable. This position of rest for these elements is best shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Likewise mounted on the shaft 39 is a gear wheel 52 in mesh with a worm 53 mounted on a shaft 54 and which shaft carries a governor in the form of a pair ofsprin'g arms 55, each of the arms having a weighted extension 56 which upon rotation of the shaft 54 tend to fly apart, and accordingly cause a frictional contact with the inner face of a housing '5'? where oon this frictic-n controls the speed of the entire mechanism.

Also mounted on the end of the shaft 31 ad jacent the fixed head 32 is a projection 58 which at the end of movement of the entire mechanism contacts a member 59 mounted on theinner face of the leaf spring current contact making element 50, and which projection extends through openings in the correspondingleaf spring currentcontact making elements 61 and 62 respectively.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 6 that these current contact making elements carry points 63 at their ends which in the figure are shown in open position. The tension and positioning of the members 6-3, 61 and 62 is such that the points (33 are normally all in contact with each other making the necessary current carrying connections when the device is in operation. At the end of each key movement, however, the element 58 contacts with the plug 59 forcing the leaf spring elements 66 and 67. away from each other and from the element 62, there by opening the circuit and preparing for further operation of the device as is common with automatic telephones.

The rack 29 is maintained in contact with the pinion 30 and the stem 14 is likewise held in. desired alignment by means of a screw or the like 64, the shank of which is fitted into a slot 65 formed in the rack element.

It will be seen that herein is provi ed an automatic telephone operating mechan in which is more satisfactory than the ordinary dial heretofore used in the operation of instruments of this sort in that it is quieter, more positive in operation, and on account of the safety locking feature, the possibility of mistakes is practically eliminated. Additionally, the device is much more simple or operation and can be readily understood and handled by any person.

Further, the parts are comparatively simple and econorni ally manufactured; the evice can be easily assembled; and on account of the ease and simplicity of operation will last practically indefinitely without need of attention or repairs.

I I am aware that many changes he made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a Wide range without departing from th principles of this invention, and I, ther vfore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A means for operating automatic telephones, comprising a series of depressible keys, a pivoted lever associated with each key, stop means .for successively controlling the extent of movefor successively controlling the extent of 1n0ve-.

ment of adjacent keys and. levers, a central operating stem about which the keys are grouped, a head on the stem for common contact of the the levers therewith, electrical make and connections operated by the movement of said central operating stern, means for locking remaining keys against movement upon depressionoi any one key.

4. In an automatic telephone operating means, a series of depressible keys, a central operating stem about which the keys are grouped, a lever each key for moving th stern, and means associated with the stern for locking the remaining keys against movement upon depression of one of the keys.

5. h an automatic telephone operating means, a series of depressible keys, a central operating ste n about which the keys are grouped, a lever io each key for niov og the stem, and means associated with the stern for locking the remain} ing keys against movement upondepression of one of he keys, said means comprising a sleeve rot-stably mounted on the stern, a extensions on the sleeve, one for each key, and means 1 for shifting the sleeve and extensions about the stern upon rotation of the stem.

6. In an automatic telephone oper ""ig means, a series oi depressi'oie' keys, a ce al operating about which the keys are grouped, a lever for each key for moving the ste1n,'and means associated with the stern for locking the remaining keys against movement upondepression of one of the keys, said means comprising a sleeve rotatably mounted on the a series or" extensions on the sleeve, one for each key, and means for shifting the sleeve and extensions about the stem upon rotation of the stern, said projections extending above the inner ends of series of the levers and locking the same against movement when in said shifted position.

7. In. an automatic-telephone operating means, a series of depressihie keys, a central operating stein about which the keys are grouped, a lever for each key for moving the stern, and means associated wi h the stern for locking the remaining keys against movement upon depression or" extending above the inner ends of the levers and g the same against movementwhen in said shnted position, said shifting means comprising an extension on the stem, and a canirned slot inv the sleeve in which said ex ension operates.

8. In automatic telephone operating means,

a series of depressible keys, a ceiM-ral operating stern about which the keys grouped, a lever for each key for moving the stem, and means associated with the stern for locking theremaining keys against movement upon depression of one of tie said means comprising a sleeve rotatably mounted on the stern, a series or" extensions on the sleeve, one for each key, and means for shifting the sleeve and extensions about the stem upon rotation of the stem, said projections extending above the inner ends of the levers and locking the same against movement when in said shifted position, said shifting means comprising an extension on the stem, and a camined slot in the sleeve in which said'extension operates, together with a spring for rotating said sleeve through a limited are about the shaft upon withdrawal or the extension from the carnmed slot.

9. A means for operating automatic tele=- phones, comp sing a central slidably mounted stem, a head for the stern, a series of operating keys and lev :s grouped about the stem with the ends of the levers beneath the head, a rack. on the lower end or the stem, a pinion associated. with the rack, and a rotatable current making and breaking mechanism operated upon movement of the rack in one direction.

10. A means for operating automatic tele-- phones, comprising a central slidably mounted, stem, a head for the stem, a series of operating keys and levers grouped about the stem with the ends of the levers beneath the head, a rack on the lower end of the stern, a pinion associated. with the rack, and a rotatable current making and breaking mechanism operated upon movement of the rack in one dir ction, said mechanism comprising a driving gear and a pawl and ratch-l et connection between the pinion and said driving gear.

11. A means for operating automatic telephones, comprising a central slidably mounted. stein, a head for the stern, a series of operating: keys and levers grouped about the stem with the ends of the levers beneath the head, a rack on the lower end of the stem, a pinion associated. with the rack, and a rotatable current making andv breaking mechanism operated upon movement of the rack in one direction, said mechanism comprising a driving gear and a pawl and ratchet connection betwee' the pinion and said driving gear, together with. a positive stop means associated with the rack for controlling the drive of the gear and automatically normally positioning the current making and breaking mechanism at the end of each operation.

12. A means for operating automatic telephones, comprising a central slidably mounted stern, a head for the stem, a series of operating: keys and levers grouped about the stem l ith the ends of the levers beneath the head, a rack on the lower end of the stem, a pinion associated with the rack, and a current making and break-- ing mechanism operated upon movement of the rack in one direction, said mechanism compris ing a driving gear and a pawl and ratchet con-- nection between the pinion and said driving gear, together with a positive stop means associated. with the rack for controlling the drive of the gear and automatically normally positioning the current making and breaking mechanism at the end of each operation, said positive stop means including a two-toothed ratchet wheel and a looking pawl associated therewith.

13. A means for operating automatic telephones, comprising a central siidably mounted stern, a head for the stern, a series of operating keys and levers grouped about the stem with the ends of the levers beneath the head, a rack on the lower end of the stern, a pinion associated with the rack, and a current making and breaking mechanism operated upon movement of the rack in one direction, said mechanism comprising a driving gear and a pawl and ratchet connection between the pinion and said driving gear,

together with a positive stop means associated with the rack for controlling the drive of the gear and automatically normally positioning the current making and breaking mechanism at the end of each operation, said positive stop means including a two-toothed ratchet wheel and a locking pawl associated therewith, and means on the rack for moving the pawl into locking relationship with said. gear at the end of movement of the rack.

14. In a mechanism for operating automatic telephones, a slidable rack, a series of one-way operating'gears associated with said rack, and a make and break switch operated by the rotation of said gears.

15. In a mechanism for operating automatic telephones, a siidable rack, a series of one-way operating gears associated with said rack, and a make and break switch operated by the rotation of said gears, and an additional circuit opening and closing mechanism operated in one position at the beginning or" movement of the gears, and in the oth r position at the end of movement oi the gears.

16. In a mechanism for operating automatic telephones, a slidable rack, a series of one-way operating gears associated with said rack, and a make and break switch operated by the rotation of said gears, and an additional circuit opening and closing mechanism operated in one position at the bginning of movement or gears, and in the other position at the end of movement of the together wi h a gove ning means for controlling the speed of rotation of the gears.

17. A mechanism for operating automatic telephones, including a central operating stein, a current making and breaking rack on the stern, and a safety locking means associated with the stem for pr venting movement thereof after it has been initially brought into an operative position.

18. A mechanism for operating automatic telephones, including a central operating stern, and a safety locking means associated with the stern for preventing movement thereof after it has been initially brought into an operative position, together with positive stop means for controlling the extent of movement or the stem at the end of its operative movement.

19. A mechanism for operating automatic telephones, inciuding a central operatin stem, and a safety locking means associated with the stem for preventing movement thereof after has been initially brought into an operative position, together with positive stop means for controlling the extent of movement of the stem at the end of its operative movement, and a governor for controlling the speed of movement or" the stern throughout its operative motion.

29. A mechanism for operating automatic telephones, including a central. operating stern, and a safety locking means associated with the stem for preventing movement tiereof after has been initially brought into an operative position, together with positive stop means for controlling the extent or movement of the stem at the end of its operative movement, and a governor for controlling the speed of movement of the stem throughout its operative motion, said governor operating upon the stem in only one direction of movement.

ABRAM L. MYERS. 

